Sec. 61.053. APPLICATION PROCEDURE. (a) A public hospital or hospital district shall adopt an application procedure.

(b) Not later than the beginning of a public hospital's or hospital district's operating year, the hospital or district shall specify the procedure it will use during the operating year to determine eligibility and the documentation required to support a request for assistance and shall make a reasonable effort to notify the public of the procedure.

(c) The public hospital or hospital district shall furnish an applicant with written application forms.

(d) On request of an applicant, the public hospital or hospital district shall assist an applicant in filling out forms and completing the application process. The hospital or district shall inform an applicant of the availability of assistance.

(e) The public hospital or hospital district shall require an applicant to sign a written statement in which the applicant swears to the truth of the information supplied.

(f) The public hospital or hospital district shall explain to the applicant that if the application is approved, the applicant must report to the hospital or district any change in income or resources that might affect the applicant's eligibility. The report must be made not later than the 14th day after the date on which the change occurs. The hospital or district shall explain the possible penalties for failure to report a change.

(g) The public hospital or hospital district shall review each application and shall accept or deny the application not later than the 14th day after the date on which the hospital or district receives the completed application.

(h) The public hospital or hospital district shall provide a procedure for reviewing applications and for allowing an applicant to appeal a denial of assistance.

(i) The public hospital or hospital district shall provide an applicant written notification of the hospital's or district's decision. If the hospital or district denies assistance, the written notification shall include the reason for the denial and an explanation of the procedure for appealing the denial.

(j) The public hospital or hospital district shall maintain the records relating to an application for at least three years after the date on which the application is submitted.

(k) If an applicant is denied assistance, the applicant may resubmit an application at any time circumstances justify a redetermination of eligibility.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.